Multi-tubular peristaltic pump apparatus and methods of making and using the same

ABSTRACT

A peristaltic pump apparatus comprising two or more tubes of fluid pumped via a plurality of rollers. The peristaltic pump further comprises a housing having a clamshell design having a base of rollers that turn on an axis. The housing comprises apertures for holding two or more tubes of fluid therein, wherein the tubes are disposed within the housing to contact the rollers as the base of rollers turns on its axis, thereby pumping fluids through the two or more tubes.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a peristaltic pump comprising two or more tubes of fluid pumped via a plurality of rollers. The peristaltic pump of the present invention further comprises a housing having a clamshell design having a base of rollers that turn on an axis. The housing comprises apertures for holding two or more tubes of fluid therein, wherein the tubes are disposed within the housing to contact the rollers as the base of rollers turns on its axis, thereby pumping fluids through the two or more tubes.

BACKGROUND

The concept of the peristaltic pump and first peristaltic pump design was invented by Eugene Allen and first patented in 1881, and further was popularized in the medical field by heart surgeon Dr. Michael DeBakey as a medical student in 1932. To this day, peristaltic pumps are advantageous and used in many different industries and applications.

A peristaltic pump is a type of positive displacement pump used for pumping a variety of fluids. In a typical peristaltic pump, the fluid is contained within a flexible tube fitted inside a pump casing. A rotor with a number of “rollers”, “shoes”, “wipers”, “lobes” or “cams” attached to the external circumference of the rotor compresses the flexible tube. The rotor may typically turn via a motor attached thereto. As the rotor turns, the part of the tube under compression by the roller (or other like element) is pinched closed (or “occludes”) thus forcing the fluid to be pumped and thus to move through the tube. Additionally, as the tube opens to its natural state after the passing of the roller (“restitution” or “resilience”) fluid flow is induced to the pump. This process is called peristalsis and is used in many biological systems such as the gastrointestinal tract. Typically, there are two or more rollers occluding the tube, trapping between them a body of fluid. The body of fluid is then transported, at ambient pressure, toward the pump outlet. Peristaltic pumps may run continuously, or they may be indexed through partial revolutions to deliver smaller amounts of fluid.

Peristaltic pumps are typically used to pump clean/sterile or aggressive fluids without exposing those fluids to contamination from exposed pump components. The fluid that is pumped typically only contacts the inside surface of the tubing, and stays separate from the environment and the pump itself. Some common applications include pumping IV fluids through an infusion device, aggressive chemicals (such as acidic or basic chemicals), high solids slurries and other materials where isolation of the product from the environment, and the environment from the product, may be critical. Peristaltic pumps are also often used in medical and food applications because of the need to maintain separation of fluids from surrounding environment and pump components due to sterility concerns. For example, peristaltic pumps are used in heart-lung machines to circulate blood during a bypass surgery as the pump does not cause significant hemolysis.

Heretofore, peristaltic pumps are often utilized to pump fluid in one direction. Specifically, peristaltic pumps typically include a single tube having fluid that is pumped in one direction, when the rollers rotate in one direction, or in a second direction, when the rollers rotate in the second direction. Thus, typical peristaltic pumps are limited in the amount and direction of fluids that may be pumped thereby. A need, therefore, exists for a peristaltic pump that may pump fluids through more than one tube. Specifically, a need exists for a peristaltic pump having a plurality of tubes interacting with the plurality of rollers, wherein each of the tubes has a fluid therein that may be pumped by the plurality of rollers together at the same time.

As noted above, peristaltic pumps typically pump fluid through a single tube in a single direction. Oftentimes, the tube is place within the housing of the peristaltic pump and typically follows a path around the circumference of the rollers. In such a design, fluid may flow into the pump from one of the tube in one direction and out of the pump from the tube in another direction. A need, therefore, exists for a peristaltic pump that may maintain the directional movement of fluids therethrough, wherein the fluids move into the pump in a first direction and exit the pump in the same direction. In addition, a need exists for a peristaltic pump that may pump fluid through a first tube in one direction, and a second tube in a second direction.

Because tubing in a typical peristaltic pump is typically wrapped around the circumference of the rotor, the flexing of the tubing may introduce weaknesses within the tubing that may subject the tubing to failure or attack by aggressive chemicals that may be pumped therethrough. A need, therefore, exists for a peristaltic pump maintaining the linearity of tubing that may be disposed therethrough. More specifically, a need exists for a peristaltic pump wherein the tubing maintains a straight line as it passes through the pump housing.

Moreover, peristaltic pumps typically are complicated systems that may be difficult for an individual to load with the tubing and the rotor. The housings are typically difficult to enter, and tubes are typically wrapped therethrough or around the rotor in a complicated pathway. A need, therefore, exists for a peristaltic pump that is easy to access and set up. More specifically, a need exists for a peristaltic pump having a housing that opens easily, and wherein the tubes may be easily and quickly placed in the proper pathways to interact with the rollers of the rotor.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a peristaltic pump comprising two or more tubes of fluid pumped via a plurality of rollers. The peristaltic pump of the present invention further comprises a housing having a clamshell design having a base of rollers that turn on an axis. The housing comprises apertures for holding two or more tubes of fluid therein, wherein the tubes are disposed within the housing to contact the rollers as the base of rollers turns on its axis, thereby pumping fluids through the two or more tubes.

To this end, in an embodiment of the present invention, a pump for pumping fluids through two or more tubes is provided. The pump comprises a housing having a rotor assembly having a plurality of rollers within the housing, and at least two tubes disposed through the housing and occluded by the rollers of the rotor assembly.

Specifically, in an embodiment of the present invention, a peristaltic pump is provided. The peristaltic pump comprises: a housing comprising an interior radial surface and a rotor assembly, wherein the rotor assembly comprises a plurality of rollers disposed radially around the rotor assembly; a first tube disposed through housing and positioned between the interior radial surface and the rotor assembly; and a second tube disposed through the housing and positioned between the interior radial surface and the rotor assembly.

In an embodiment, the housing is bifurcated into first and second halves.

In an embodiment, the housing comprises a clamshell configuration.

In an embodiment, the first tube is disposed through the first half of the housing.

In an embodiment, the second tube is disposed through the second half of the housing.

In an embodiment, wherein, in operation, the rollers occlude the first tube and the second tube as the rotor assembly rotates.

In an embodiment, the rollers occlude the first and second tubes as the rotor assembly rotates, moving material within the first tube in a first direction and moving material within the second tube in a second direction.

In an embodiment, the first and second directions are opposite directions.

In an embodiment, the peristaltic pump further comprises: a motor connected to the rotor assembly configured to rotate the rotor assembly within the housing.

In an embodiment, the peristaltic pump further comprises: a third tube disposed through the housing between the interior radial surface and the rotor assembly.

In an alternate embodiment of the present invention, a method of pumping fluids through a peristaltic pump is provided. The method comprising the steps of: providing a peristaltic pump comprising a housing comprising an interior radial surface and a rotor assembly, wherein the rotor assembly comprises a plurality of rollers disposed radially around the rotor assembly, a first tube disposed through housing and positioned between the interior radial surface and the rotor assembly, and a second tube disposed through the housing and positioned between the interior radial surface and the rotor assembly; rotating the rotor assembly; occluding the first tube with the rollers and moving a first material through the first tube; and occluding the second tube with the rollers and moving a second material through the second tube.

In an embodiment, the rotor assembly is rotated via a motor connected to the rotor assembly.

In an embodiment, the housing is bifurcated into first and second halves, and further comprising the step of: separating the first half from the second half to gain access to the interior of the housing.

In an embodiment, the housing comprises a clamshell configuration.

In an embodiment, the first tube is disposed through the first half of the housing.

In an embodiment, the second tube is disposed through the second half of the housing.

In an embodiment, wherein the first material within the first tube moves in a first direction and the second material within the second tube moves in a second direction.

In an embodiment, the first and second directions are opposite directions.

In an embodiment, the peristaltic pump further comprises a third tube disposed through the housing between the interior radial surface and the rotor assembly.

In an embodiment, the method further comprises the step of: occluding the third tube with the rollers and moving a third material through the third tube.

It is, therefore, an advantage and objective of the present invention to provide a peristaltic pump that may pump fluids through more than one tube.

Specifically, it is an advantage and objective of the present invention to provide a peristaltic pump having a plurality of tubes interacting with the plurality of rollers, wherein each of the tubes has a fluid therein that may be pumped by the plurality of rollers together at the same time.

Moreover, it is an advantage and objective of the present invention to provide a peristaltic pump that may maintain the directional movement of fluids therethrough, wherein the fluids move into the pump in a first direction and exit the pump in the same direction.

In addition, it is an advantage and objective of the present invention to provide a peristaltic pump that may pump fluid through a first tube in one direction, and a second tube in a second direction.

It is additionally an advantage and objective of the present invention to provide a peristaltic pump maintaining the linearity of tubing that may be disposed therethrough.

More specifically, it is an advantage and objective of the present invention to provide a peristaltic pump wherein the tubing maintains a straight line as it passes through the pump housing thereby maintaining its physical integrity.

Further, it is an advantage and objective of the present invention to provide a peristaltic pump that is easy to access and set up.

Still further, it is an advantage and objective of the present invention to provide a peristaltic pump having a housing that opens easily, and wherein the tubes may be easily and quickly placed in the proper pathways to interact with the rollers of the rotor.

Additional features and advantages of the present invention are described in, and will be apparent from, the detailed description of the presently preferred embodiments and from the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawing figures depict one or more implementations in accord with the present concepts, by way of example only, not by way of limitations. In the figures, like reference numerals refer to the same or similar elements.

FIG. 1 illustrates a front perspective view of a multi-tubular peristaltic pump in an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates an exploded view of a multi-tubular peristaltic pump in an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates a rotor and roller assembly for a multi-tubular peristaltic pump in an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates a housing for a multi-tubular peristaltic pump in an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention relates to a peristaltic pump comprising two or more tubes of fluid pumped via a plurality of rollers. The peristaltic pump of the present invention further comprises a housing having a clamshell design having a base of rollers that turn on an axis. The housing comprises apertures for holding two or more tubes of fluid therein, wherein the tubes are disposed within the housing to contact the rollers as the base of rollers turns on its axis, thereby pumping fluids through the two or more tubes.

Now referring to the figures, wherein like numerals refer to like parts, FIG. 1 illustrates a front perspective view of a multi-tubular peristaltic pump 10 in an embodiment of the present invention. The pump 10 comprises a housing 12 that may be in the form of a clamshell, as shown in FIG. 1, comprising a semi-cylindrical first half 14 and a semi-cylindrical second half 16 that may be hinged together on sides 18, 20 thereof. Pins 22, 24 may be disposed through the first and second halves 14, 16 on the sides 18, 20, respectively, to hold the first and second halves together. Thus, the first and second halves may be easily separated one from another by pulling the pins 22, 24.

A flexible first tube 26 may be disposed through the housing 12 and, more specifically, through the first half 14 thereof. A flexible second tube 28 may be also be disposed through the housing 12 and, more specifically, through the second half 16. Specifically, the first and second tubes 26, 28 may be disposed through bore holes disposed through the walls of the first and second halves 14, 16 of the housing 12, respectively. The first and second tubes are disposed generally linearly through the housing 12, and generally form a straight path for material flowing therethrough as the material flows through the housing 12, as illustrated in FIG. 4. As noted below, the first and second tubes may be pinched or occluded by rollers 52 within a rotor assembly 50 (as illustrated in FIG. 2) and, therefore, may be slightly deformed radially around the rotor assembly 50 as the first and second tubes 26, 28 traverse through the housing 12, but generally, the material flowing therethrough travel along a mostly straight path. Any deformation of the first and second tubes 26, 28 is done for the purpose of moving material through the first and second tubes 26, 28 via the rollers of the rotor assembly 50.

While the present invention illustrates first and second tubes 26, 28, it should be noted that the housing 12 may be configured with additional bore holes allowing more than the two tubes as illustrated. For example, additional bore holes above and/or below the boreholes having the first and second tubes 26, 28 therein may be disposed within the housing 12 to allow additional tubes to be disposed through the housing and traversing in different directions, which may be impacted by the roller assembly 50 therein to move material through the additional tubes. Moreover, while the first and second tubes 26, 28 may be disposed parallel to each other, other tubes may be disposed at other angles to each other through the housing. For example, three tubes, all at roughly 120 degrees to each other may be disposed through the housing to interact with the roller assembly 50 disposed therein. The present invention, however, should not be limited as described herein with the number of tubes that may be disposed through the housing 12.

The flexible first and second tubes 26, 28, and any additional tubes that may be disposed through the housing 12, as noted above, may be made from a resilient and flexible rubber or plastic. Typical tubes that may be utilized in the present invention may be made from materials such as, but not limited to, polyvinyl chloride, silicone rubber, fluoropolymer, and thermoplastic elastomer, such as PharMed® BPT, which is commonly used for peristaltic pumps in the medical field due to its resilience and long-life.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the pump 10 operates through the rotation of a roller assembly 50 (as illustrated in FIG. 2) that may have a plurality of rollers 52 disposed therein. Typically, the rotation of the roller assembly 50 within the housing 12 is accomplished via an electric motor 30 that may be interconnected with the roller assembly 50 via an axis 54 that may extend from the housing 12. As the rotor assembly 50 rotates within the housing 12 via the motor 30, the rollers 52 may pinch the first and second tubes 26, 28, thereby occluding the first and second tubes 26, 28 and moving the material contained therein through the first and second tubes 26, 28. Because the rotor assembly rotates in a direction (either clockwise or counter-clockwise), the material contained within the first tube 26 will move in a first direction and the material contained within the second tube 28 will move in a second, opposite direction.

For example, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the motor may turn the rotor assembly 50 in a clockwise direction (when viewed from the top), as illustrated by direction arrow “A”. As the motor rotates in the rotor in the clockwise direction A, material within first tube 26 may move in direction “B”, while material within second tube 28 may move in direction “C”. Likewise, if the motor turns the rotor assembly 50 in a counter-clockwise direction (when viewed from above), the material within first and second tubes 26, 28 may move in opposite directions than described herein.

FIG. 3 illustrates a close-up view of rotor assembly 50, comprising the rollers 52 and axis 54 for interconnecting with motor 30, as illustrated in FIG. 1. The rotor assembly 50 may further comprise first base 56 and second base 58 disposed on bottom and top, respectively, of each of the rollers 52, wherein each of the rollers 52 is disposed between the first and second bases 56, 58, respectively, and further may independently rotate along axes 60. The entirety of the rotor assembly 50 may rotate as the motor 30 rotates the same through axis 54, either clockwise or counter-clockwise. As the rotor assembly 50 rotates, the rollers interact and occlude the first and second tubes 26, 28 (as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 4) thereby moving material therethrough the first and second tubes 26, 28.

Although the rotor assembly 50, as shown in FIG. 3, has 6 individual rollers 52, it should be noted that the rotor assembly 50 should not be limited in this manner, and the rotor assembly 50 may have more or less, as needed or desired for any particular application. The rollers 52 may be lubricated, as apparent to one or ordinary skill in the art, to provide easier and efficient rotation. Moreover, the rollers 52 may be made from any material useful for the present invention, such as metal, plastic, elastomeric rubber, or combinations thereof. For example, the rollers 52 may be made entirely from metal for strength and resilience. Alternatively, the rollers 52 may be made generally from metal, but may have an outer coating of an elastomeric gripping material to prevent slippage of the rollers 52 as the rollers interact with first and second tubes 26, 28.

The rollers 52 may be sandwiched between bases 56, 58 disposed on opposite sides of the rollers 52, wherein the rollers 52 are rotatably disposed therein, rotating on axes 60 that may hold the rollers 52 between the bases 56, 58. In an embodiment, the rollers 52 may be spring-loaded and movable laterally between bases 56, 58, although the present invention should not be limited in this regard.

The axis 54 may engage a shaft (not shown) from a motor 30 for rotating of the rotor assembly while it is housed within the housing 12. In practice, the rollers 52 occlude the tubes 26, 28 (or any other tubes disposed therethrough) to move material through the tubes 26, 28. The motor 30, thus, provides continuous movement of material through tubes 26, 28.

FIG. 4 illustrates the housing 12 that is open on one end due to the removal of pin 22 (not shown in FIG. 4), whereas pin 24 is illustrated as holding the end 20 of the housing together, hingedly allowing the housing halves 14, 16 to separate one from another so that one can gain access to the interior of the housing 12. Specifically, if first and second tubes 26, 28 must be replaced due to wear, or if the rotor assembly 50 must be removed or accessed, then the housing 12 may be opened in this manner without completely separating halves 14, 16 apart. Alternatively, both pins 22, 24 may be removed and the one housing half 14 may be completed separated from the other housing half 16.

Further, the interior surface of the first half 14 may have grooves 62, 64 that may hold in place the first and second bases 56, 58 of the rotor assembly 50. Likewise, the interior surface of the second half 16 may have grooves 66, 68 to further hold the first and second bases 56, 58 of the rotor assembly 50 in place when disposed within the housing 12, and the first and second halves 14, 16 are closed upon each other and the pin 22 holds the first and second halves 14, 16 together. To aid in the rotation of the rotor 50 within the grooves 62, 64, 66, 68, respectively, the rotor assembly 50 may be lubricated to provide smooth motion. Alternatively, the rotor assembly may have ball bearings or other means for smooth rotating the rotor assembly 50 within the housing 12 when rotated by the motor 30.

The pump 10 of the present invention, as noted above, allows material to be pumped through two or more tubes at the same time. Specifically, as the motor 30 turns the rotor assembly 50, the rollers 52 occlude each of the tubes disposed therethrough to move material. Thus, material from multiple sources may independently pump through the pump through the plurality of tubes. Preferably, however, as illustrated in FIGS. 1-4, first and second tubes 26, 28 may move material therethrough in opposite directions at roughly the same rate (depending on the relative sizes of the tubes), the pump of the present invention is ideal for a system whereby material must be added and removed from a common receptacle, such as in a cyclical system.

For example, the pump 10 of the present invention may be utilized to pump a fluid into and out of a common receptacle, such as a brewed material into and out of a fermentation tank. Specifically, the brewed fluid, such as beer, may be pumped into the fermentation tank via first tube 26 and, at the same time, pumped out of the fermentation tank via second tube 28, which may move the brewed fluid in the opposite direction. Thus, a constant cycle of brewed material may be added and removed from the fermentation tank. And because the rotor assembly 50 moves the material through the first and second tubes 26, 28 at the same rate, the fermentation tank may maintain constant volume during the cycling of the brewed material. In such as a case, two pumps would previously have been necessary, requiring precise synchronization of the rates of brewed fluid flow into and out of the fermentation tank. With the present invention, the cycling of the brewed material may easily be accomplished via a single pump.

The pump of the present invention may also be utilized in other cyclical systems. For example, if more than two tubes are disposed through the housing, either at angles to each other or parallel to each other, than the more than two tubes may each move fluid therethrough in several different directions at the same time and to several different locations at the same time. For example, if the pump of the present invention include three tubes, a first tube may be disposed toward a first receptacle, a second tube may be disposed toward a second receptacle, and a third tube may be disposed to a third receptacle. Of course, the plurality of tubes of the present invention may be routed in any manner apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art, and the pump may move fluid therethrough via the single pump through each tube independently.

It should be noted that various changes and modifications to the presently preferred embodiments described herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention and without diminishing its attendant advantages. Further, references throughout the specification to “the invention” are nonlimiting, and it should be noted that claim limitations presented herein are not meant to describe the invention as a whole. Moreover, the invention illustratively disclosed herein suitably may be practiced in the absence of any element which is not specifically disclosed herein. 

I claim:
 1. A peristaltic pump comprising: a housing comprising an interior radial surface and a rotor assembly, wherein the rotor assembly comprises a plurality of rollers disposed radially around the rotor assembly; a first tube disposed through housing and positioned between the interior radial surface and the rotor assembly; and a second tube disposed through the housing and positioned between the interior radial surface and the rotor assembly.
 2. The peristaltic pump of claim 1 wherein the housing is bifurcated into first and second halves.
 3. The peristaltic pump of claim 2 wherein the housing comprises a clamshell configuration.
 4. The peristaltic pump of claim 2 wherein the first tube is disposed through the first half of the housing.
 5. The peristaltic pump of claim 4 wherein the second tube is disposed through the second half of the housing.
 6. The peristaltic pump of claim 1 wherein, in operation, the rollers occlude the first tube and the second tube as the rotor assembly rotates.
 7. The peristaltic pump of claim 5 wherein the rollers occlude the first and second tubes as the rotor assembly rotates, moving material within the first tube in a first direction and moving material within the second tube in a second direction.
 8. The peristaltic pump of claim 7 wherein the first and second directions are opposite directions.
 9. The peristaltic pump of claim 1 further comprising: a motor connected to the rotor assembly configured to rotate the rotor assembly within the housing.
 10. The peristaltic pump of claim 1 further comprising: a third tube disposed through the housing between the interior radial surface and the rotor assembly.
 11. A method of pumping fluids through a peristaltic pump comprising the steps of: providing a peristaltic pump comprising a housing comprising an interior radial surface and a rotor assembly, wherein the rotor assembly comprises a plurality of rollers disposed radially around the rotor assembly, a first tube disposed through housing and positioned between the interior radial surface and the rotor assembly, and a second tube disposed through the housing and positioned between the interior radial surface and the rotor assembly; rotating the rotor assembly; occluding the first tube with the rollers and moving a first material through the first tube; and occluding the second tube with the rollers and moving a second material through the second tube.
 12. The method of claim 11 wherein the rotor assembly is rotated via a motor connected to the rotor assembly.
 13. The method of claim 11 wherein the housing is bifurcated into first and second halves, and further comprising the step of: separating the first half from the second half to gain access to the interior of the housing.
 14. The method of claim 13 wherein the housing comprises a clamshell configuration.
 15. The method of claim 13 wherein the first tube is disposed through the first half of the housing.
 16. The method of claim 13 wherein the second tube is disposed through the second half of the housing.
 17. The method of claim 11 wherein the first material within the first tube moves in a first direction and the second material within the second tube moves in a second direction.
 18. The method of claim 17 wherein the first and second directions are opposite directions.
 19. The method of claim 11 wherein the peristaltic pump further comprises a third tube disposed through the housing between the interior radial surface and the rotor assembly.
 20. The method of claim 19 further comprising the step of: occluding the third tube with the rollers and moving a third material through the third tube. 